Theme: What is money, how do we make choices with it, and why decisions matter.
Schedule: 3 class days (45–60 minutes each).

Day 1: What is Money?

Week 1 Introduction: Dollars and Decisions

Welcome to our new class, Dollars and Decisions! This week, we’re going to start exploring how money plays an important role in our lives. You might think money is just coins and bills, but it’s really much more than that—it’s about the choices we make every day.

All lessons are at the bottom of this page for the week.

What We’ll Learn This Week

• Day 1: What is Money?
  We’ll go back in time to see how people traded before money even existed, and why money makes life easier.
• Day 2: Needs vs. Wants
  We’ll figure out how to tell the difference between what we must have to live and what we just want for fun.
• Day 3: Choices & Costs
  We’ll learn about opportunity cost—the idea that every decision means giving something else up.

Why It Matters

Every day, you make money decisions—whether it’s choosing how to spend your allowance, deciding if you should save for something bigger, or even planning for a school field trip. This week will help you start to see how smart decisions today can help you reach your goals tomorrow.

Fun Ahead

Get ready for games, stories, short videos, and activities where you’ll get to make your own money choices. By the end of this week, you’ll know how to:

• Explain what money is and why it’s important.
• Sort the difference between a need and a want.
• Spot the opportunity cost in everyday decisions.

So let’s dive in! By the end of Week 1, you’ll see money in a whole new way—not just as dollars and coins, but as the decisions that shape your life.

Objectives

• Understand the purpose of money and how it replaced barter.
• Learn about the history of trade and exchange.
• Recognize that money has value because people agree it does.

Key Terms

• Barter – trading goods/services without money.
• Currency – money used in a country.
• Value – the worth of something.

Materials

• Projector/smartboard.
• Tokens, small classroom items (pencils, erasers, stickers).
• Worksheet (multiple choice).

Activities

1. Hook (5 min): Ask: “If money didn’t exist, how would you buy your lunch?”
2. Mini-Lesson (10 min): Explain barter → money → digital currency (quick timeline).
3. Video (5 min):“The History of Money for Kids” (YouTube – 3–4 min).
4. Activity (15 min):Barter Game – students trade classroom items (e.g., stickers, pencils, erasers). Discuss: Was it easy? Hard? Why is money useful?
5. Discussion (5 min): What would happen if we had no money today?

Worksheet Sample Questions

1. Trading goods without money is called:
   a) Saving
   b) Barter ✅
   c) Banking
   d) Investing
2. Money works because people:
   a) All agree it has value ✅
   b) Only banks say so
   c) Can print their own money
   d) Trade without rules

Day 2: Needs vs. Wants

Objectives

• Learn the difference between needs and wants.
• Practice making financial choices.

Key Terms

• Needs – things required to live (food, water, shelter, clothing).
• Wants – things that make life fun but aren’t necessary.
• Priorities – what we decide is most important.

Materials

• Needs vs. Wants cards or slides (pictures of food, toys, clothes, video games, etc.).
• Chart paper or whiteboard.
• Worksheet.

Activities

1. Hook (5 min): Show 2 pictures (pizza vs. new shoes) → Ask: “Which one is a need?”
2. Mini-Lesson (10 min): Define needs vs. wants. Discuss examples.
3. Video (5 min):“Needs and Wants for Kids” (2–3 min).
4. Activity (15 min):Needs vs. Wants Sorting Game – groups sort picture cards into two columns. Then debate “gray areas” (e.g., cell phone, pet).
5. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: “If you had $10, would you spend it on candy or save for new shoes? Why?”

Worksheet Sample Questions

1. Which of the following is a need?
   a) Ice cream
   b) Sneakers for school ✅
   c) Video games
   d) Toys
2. Deciding what’s most important to spend money on is called:
   a) Spending
   b) Priorities ✅
   c) Shopping
   d) Borrowing

Day 3: Decision-Making & Opportunity Cost

Objectives

• Understand that every money decision has trade-offs.
• Learn the concept of opportunity cost.

Key Terms

• Decision-Making – choosing between options.
• Opportunity Cost – what you give up when you choose one option.
• Trade-Off – compromise between two choices.

Materials

• Scenarios (printed or on board).
• “Would You Rather” money cards.
• Worksheet.

Activities

1. Hook (5 min): Ask: “Would you rather have $5 now or $20 in a week?”
2. Mini-Lesson (10 min): Explain trade-offs and opportunity cost with examples (buy candy now vs. save for a game).
3. Video (5 min):“Opportunity Cost Explained for Kids” (short animated video).
4. Activity (15 min):Would You Rather? – students vote on money scenarios (e.g., “Spend $10 at the movies OR save it for a bigger purchase”). Discuss what’s being given up.
5. Wrap-Up (5 min): Students write one decision they made this week and what the opportunity cost was.

Worksheet Sample Questions

1. Opportunity cost means:
   a) The money you spend on something
   b) The thing you give up when you make a choice ✅
   c) The extra money you earn
   d) The trade you make with friends
2. If you buy candy with your $5 instead of saving for a toy, the opportunity cost is:
   a) The candy
   b) The toy ✅
   c) The money
   d) The store

What is Money?- Day 1

Needs vs. Wants- Day 2

Dollars and Decisions- Day 3